Shotgun 'good turn' could lead to jail

The court was told that a similar case had resulted in a three-year term of imprisonment, reduced to two years on appeal.
Clare Barclay, prosecuting, said David Barrie Mann of Bath Road, Halfway, had offered to fix the shotgun for a friend named only as Mr Peacock.
She added: “Police attended Mr Mann’s home address concerning a completely different matter and saw the 12 bore shotgun there. He admitted he did not have a licence and knew he should have done, even to mend it.
“Because he worked on a farm, everyone assumed he did have one. The owner was cautioned for giving the gun to the defendant without checking and has had his own licence confiscated as a result.”
Mr Mann, aged 49, admitted being in possession of a Castellani 12 bore shotgun at Halfway Farm, Halfway, without holding a firearms certificate on February 7 this year.
He has a previous conviction for commiting the same offence in 1989 and the clerk advised magistrates that their powers of punishment - a maximum of six months’ imprisonment - were insufficient.
She cited the sentence, above, handed down by a judge in a similar case in 2004 and urged magistrates to send Mr Mann to the Crown court for sentencing.
Mike Davis, defending, said there were “significant differences” between the 2004 case and his client’s. He added: “It’s not in dispute that he was just mending it for a friend - he didn’t own it.
“He has spent many years dealing with firearms and has held a certificate for them in the past. His 1989 conviction happened because his certificate had expired. He forgot to renew it the year police stopped sending out automatic reminders. The defendant lives on an isolated farm. There was no intention to use the gun in any way.”
Presiding magistrate Liz Harrison said: “You make good points, Mr Davis, but we feel these arguments should be aired at the Crown court.”
Mr Mann was bailed until May 13 when he will appear before a judge at Reading Crown Court.